B‘ Mitzvah Design and Officiation
From 1:1 Hebrew tutoring to teaching kids (and their parents!) to leyn/chant from the Torah to delving into Jewish culture, history, and genealogy, to planning the perfect bespoke ceremony for your family, I have designed and officiated dozens of meaningful, multigenerational Bar and Bat Mitzvah rites of passage.
I have helped children and families who grapple with learning difficulties, social anxiety, gender expansiveness, and identity challenges to create substantial and memorable ceremonies. I have a whole-family approach seeking to integrate as wide and deep of a community engagement as possible. I work outside of extant institutional structures but also partner well with synagogues, temples, and other worship communities.
“It's hard to put words to something that is beyond words. Maybe a poet or a songwriter could do it, but it's not MY thing. My thing is choosing the best, and Shir is the BEST… Shir made every step of the process of Bat Mitzvah (for every generation) meaningful, engaging, fun, and real. What more could we ask?
“The culmination of learning, singing, debating, bonding, reflecting, and prayer was a beautiful service co-led by our daughter and Shir where all of her selfhood as a budding adult shined.
“We could not have wished for a better rite of passage for our whole family and everyone involved was enriched by the soulfulness of the approach, the music, the prayers, the Torah service, engagement with text, and the culture of active engagement.” –LG
“After a decade of photographing B’ Mitzvahs, Shir’s service was by far the most beautiful, warm, and inviting I have seen. The music was astounding and joyful. Shir made everybody in the room feel like family.” –LS
Customized Prayerbooks, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programs, and Digital Siddurim
As a graphic designer, I also design and develop custom siddurim/prayerbooks uniquely tailored to your event.
See an example to the right or check out more on issuu.com.
Transitions ꩜ Initiations
Many life changes have no established rituals to mark them but need recognition and amplification. Name change, divorce, retirement, or identity shifts are just a few. We never stop growing.
While spiritual direction might be the best place for us to begin deepening our relationship, you might already know that you’re looking for someone to help define and hold a transformational container. If that’s the case, I’m ready to meet you at this edge of emergence.
Funerals. Memorial services. Healing circles.
“You did the most amazing thing for all of us, Shir. I could barely believe how strongly you held everyone. I’ve been realizing now how difficult the whole day was for me and how much work it was to show up…. You were a clear bright spot for all and I’m so grateful.”
–EG